Casket sealing and locking means



June 2, 1942. R. B. PURKISS 2,284,921

v I CASKET SEALING AND LOCKING MEANS Filed Au 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

INVENTOR.

uher tElPur'kiss ATTORNEYS.

June 2, 1942. R. B. puR Klss 2,284,92f

CASKET SEALING AND LOCKING MEANS Filed Aug. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5.

, INVENTOR.

RDBETLEPuTkiEE I BY I L ATTORN EYS.

Jime ,2 1942. R. Bi PURKISS 2,284,921

CASKET SEALING AND LOCKING MEANS Filed Aug. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /.2 F'G. '8. 3 I l) I j \I 2- M, I H FIG-.10. a) n u .95

, I111; 4: I36 f2 M INVENTOR.

RDIJEI'T E.Purki55 ATTORNEYS.

June 2, 1942. R. B. PURKISS CASKET SEALING AND LOCKING MEANS Filed Aug. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 2, 1942 v I v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-7' CASKET SEALING AND LOCKING MEANS Robert B. Purkiss, Batesville, Ind., assign'or to The Batesville Casket Company, Batesville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application August 7, 1940, Serial No. 351,692

4 .Claims. (01. 27-17) This invention relates to improvements in vided with the improved sealing means and showhermetically sealed burial cases or caskets. More ing the head portion of the top partially opened. particularly, the invention resides in the pro- Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse view part vision of an improved sealing arrangement for in section and part in elevation, taken substancaskets of the type employing separately movable tially on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

top sections as well as improvements in the Figure 3 is a fragmentary ,view part in section structure incorporating the sealing and seal and part in elevation, taken substantially on operating mechanism. the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

It has been an object of the present inventor Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional to provide an improved casket construction view thru the casket and looking toward the wherein the casket is hermetically sealed by feet Portion o the casket pmeans of a marginal sealing gasket extending en- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a casket of tirely around the margin of the body of the the single sealer full couch type provided with casket and wherein the lid is sealed with respect the improv Sealing s. to the body of the casket through this gasket, -1 gure 6 is a fragmenta y transverse section by pull-down means located entirely within the thru the casket of Figure 5 with the top in closed, zone of the body sealed by the marginal gasket, sealed position upon the body portion of the which means is actuated from a single point acs cessible from the exterior of the casket, and F gure 7 is a view substantially similar to which means need only be sealed at a single Figure 6 but showing the top partially open. point; namely, at the point in the wall of the Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view thru casket through which the means extends. the op ng and pull-dow means d Showing Another object relates to a pull-down means. e top in sealed position. C incorporating a sealing structure for sealing the Figure 9 is a top plan of the showing in Figure means at the point where it extends out of the 2 with a portion o the b dy flange broken awaycasket body. 7 at the operating end of the wedge bar.

One type'of casket employs what is known as Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary longia cut top or a top which is composed of sections tudinal section thru the operating head and adindependently movable. Quite obviously, the jacent end of the wedge bar. ow in p sealing of this type of casket requires a highly released positioneflicient sealing arrangement between the secu e 1 is a Section at a rig t angle tothe tions as well as between the sections and the showing n Figure w t Wedge r 100kbody of the casket. ing position.

Accordingly, it has been a further object of Figure 12 is an enlargeddetail view of one of the present inventor to provide a burial casket the pull-down studs. of the type including independently movable top Figure 13' is a. detail view of a modified form sections, in which these top sections are herof pull-down stud. metically sealed with respect to the body of the Figure 14 is a detail transverse section showcasket and between the sections themselves, eming a modification of the invention applied to ploying for this purpose a sealing means bea single sealer casket of the separate or inner tween the sections cooperating with the sealing seal type.

means between the sections and the body in such Figure- 15 shows a further modification of the manner that the casket iscompletely sealed. inner seal type having a. modified formof gasket The structure of the pull-down and locking carried by the inner seal.

means for pulling the lid into hermetically sealed Figure 16 shows a modification wherein the position on the body is described and claimed in pull-down studs pass thru the gasket.

. my copending application, Serial No.415,734,. Figure 1'7 shows a further modification of the filed October 20, 1941, entitled Apparatus for separate or inner sealer wherein the casket toplocking and sealing a burial casket, which apacts upon the margin of the inner seal for complication is divisional of the present application. pressing the sealing gasket.

Other objects and certain advantages of the In the drawings, wherein like reference charpresent invention will be more fully apparent acters designate corresponding parts thruout the from the description of the .drawings in which: views,,Figures 1 to 4 show the sealing means ap- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a burial case plied to a cut top single sealer casket A, while or casket of the single sealed cut top type pro- Figures 5 to 7 show the invention embodied in a sealing relation with the body portion of th casket.

The operating head assembly 30 comprises a mounting portion 33'which is fixedly gmounted sections I2 and I3 are hinged along their rear edge as by hinges I5 to the rear wall of the body' portion I0 so as to be independently opened as is usual practice with this type of cut or sectional top casket.

Extended inwardly from the upper edges of the side and end walls of the body portion III are flat horizontal flanges providing a front flange I6, a rear flange I1 and end flanges I8. These flanges I6, I1 and I6 form a continuous seat about the upper end of the body portion I0 against which the hinged top sections I2 and I3 are adapted to close. The top sections I2 and I3 are provided at their outerends with an inwardly extending flange I9 adapted to co-act with the end flanges I8 and along their front and rear edges with inwardly extending flanges and 2I respectively, which are adapted to respectively coact in confronting relation to the flanges I6 and I1.

The adjacent ends of the top sections I2 and I3 are respectively closed by parallel headers 22 and 23 which are slightly spaced apart to permit independent swinging of the top sections.

Provided in the continuous seat formed by the flanges I6, I1 and I8 is a continuous groove 24 in-which is disposed a sealing element in the form of a tubular rubber gasket 25 which normally projects partially above the surface of the flanges so as to be engaged by the flanges of the top II, when closed upon the body portion I0 and thus form a seal about the entire marginal portion of the top.

The joint between the top sections I2 and I3 is sealed by means of a transverse gasket 26 which co-acts with the marginal gasket 25 to hermetiupon the inner side of one end wall 31 of the casket body portion as by means of bolts 33. This mounting portion 33 includes a metal housing 34 having a recess 35 in its inner side adapted to enclose the lock'nuts 36. the outer flat side of the housing 34 and the end wall 31 of the casket body is a rubber head gasket 38, while disposed over the recessed inner sice of the housing is a rubber closing gasket 39. As

cally seal the casket when the lid or top II isclosed. The header 23 of the top section I3 is provided with a web 21 which extends into a slot 28 of the gasket 26 whereby this gasket is attached to the top section I3 with the ends of the gasket 26 terminating on the center line of the shown in Figure 11, the bolts 33' pass thru the housing 34 and gaskets 38 and 39 so that when tightened, the head gasket 38 seals the housing 34 to the casket wall 31 and also seals about the bolt hole openings. The closing gasket 39 seals against the inner face of the housing 34 and also against the face of the innermost lock nut 36, as .well as about the mounting bolts 33'. A bronze washer bearing 46 in the recess 35 forms a thrust bearing for the inner lock' nut 36.

Threaded thru the lock nuts 36 is an operating screw 4I having a head 42 at its outer end bearing against the outer end of the housing '34 and which head projects slightly thru an opening 43 in the casket end wall 31. A look tube or spacer sleeve 44 is disposed between the screw head 42 and the lock nuts 36 and forms a shoulder against which the nuts 36 are locked to prevent loosening of the lock nuts upon rotation of the operating screw in either direction.

The wedge -bar 3I is guided for longitudinal movement along the under side of the front casket flange I6 by means of suitable guide clips 45, and is formed with two or more spaced apart cams or wedges 46 having inclined portions 41 which are upwardly inclined in a direction toward the operating head 30. The guide clips 45, as shown in Figure 10 form stops against which the wedges 46 abut to limit opening movement of the wedge bar 3I by the operating screw 4I. Eachwedge-46 is provided with a key hole slot 48 which extends thruout the inclined portion 41 with the enlarged end portion 49 of the slot formed in the horizontal portion of the wedge bar at the upper end of the wedge. The lower end of each inclined slot 48 terminates in a horigasket 25, as is shown in Figure 2. The header 22 of the top section I2 is formed with a recessed transverse seat 29 which engages upon the gasket 26 for sealing the space between the headers 22 and 23. This seat 29-acts to compress thegasket 26 against the header 23, while the web 21, aside from forming a retainer for the gasket 26, also forces the end portions of the asket 26 into sealing relation upon the gasket 25, as will be seen in Figure 3.

Referring now to the sealing or pull-down means 0, this means is designed so as to operate for uniformly sealing the casket by means of a wrench or other suitable tool applied-to a single operating location on the casket. With particular reference to Figures 8 to 12 of the drawings, the means C is disposed to extend longitudinally beneath the front horizontal flange I6 of the casket body portion I8 and embodies an operating head assembly 30 for actuating a wedge bar 3I which co-acts with pull-down studs 32 on the casket top for drawing the casket top down into zontal portion 50 at the lower end of each wedge 46.

Secured as by welding, brazing or in any other preferred manner to the forward end of the wedge bar 3| is a travel nut 5| having a threaded opening for receiving the operating screw 4I whereby upon rotation of the operating screw, longitudinal movement is imparted to the wedge bar. The head 42 of the operating screw 4I may be provided with a wrench opening or socket 52 for imparting rotation to the screw.

The flange I6 is provided with stud receiving openings 54 which, whenthe wedge bar 3| is in an open or retracted position will align with the enlarged ends 49. of the key hole slots 48, as shown in Figure 10. A pull-down stud 32 is provided for each wedge 46 of the wedge bar 3 I.

The pull-down studs 32 are formed with a shank portion having a shoulder '55 intermediate the ends of the shank providing a threaded end portion 56 and a plain neck portion 51 hav- Disposed between like 59 which may be soldered as at 60, if desired, so as to seal'the openings 56'.

Each of the top sections l2 and I3 is provided with one or more of the pull-down studs 32; a wedge 46 being provided on the wedge bar 3| for each pull-down stud provided. The neck portions of the studs are of a diameter substantially equal to the width of the narrow portions of the key hole slots 48 whereby the neck portions may be received in the slots after the heads 58 have passed thru the enlarged slot portions 49.

Referring .now to Figures 5 to 7 showing the invention embodied in a full couch single sealer casket, like reference characters have been applied to elements of the sealing means C which are similar in construction and operation as that orv pull-down closing movement to the wedge bar 3|. As the wedge, bar is moved, the heads 58 of the pull-down studs-32 will ride down the inclined portions 41 of the wedges 46 and pull the top H into compressing relation upon the gasket 25, thus efiecting a seal about the entire upper margin of the body portion 10. As the operating head 30 is actuated, the pull-down studs are moved in a direction at a right angleto the direction of travel of the wedge bar 3|, so that the top section I2 is first drawn down compressing the transverse gasket 26 and then both top described in connection with the cut top carket upper end of the body portion l0. Extending inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the top II are front and rear flanges and M respectively, which align with inwardly extending end flanges l9 at the ends-of the top. When the top I I is closed-the marginal flanges thereon are in parallel confronting relation to the margtjnal flanges about the top of the body portion I The continuous seat formed by the flanges l6, l1 and I8 is provided with acontinucus groove or channel 24 in which is partially embedded a tubular rubber gasket 25' or any other suitable gasketing means, to be engaged by the fiat flanges of the top II when the latter is closed upon the body portion of the casket.

Since the sealing means C employed in the form of casket B is identical in construction and operation as that used in-the form of casket A, a further description of the application of the sealing means to the casket B is believed unnecessary. In all forms of the invention, the

sealing operation is accomplished thru means of a single longitudinally movable wedge bar concealed within the body portion of the casket and the operating head is in the position shown in Figure 10 whereby the wedge bar 3! is in a retracted position with the enlarged ends 49 of the keyhole slots 48 aligning beneath the openings 54 in the front flange IS. The hinged top IE is then lowered until it rests upon the continu-' ous gasket 25 and theheaded ends of. the pulldownstuds project down thru the. aligned openings 54 and 49. The operating screw 4| is then turnedand the travel nut 5| drawn toward .the

mounting portion 33 for imparting a longitudinal sections l2 and I3 drawn down upon the body gasket 25. When the travel nut Si is drawn by the operating screw 4l against the closing gasket 39, as shown in Figure 11, the gasket 39 is compressed against the inner end of the housing 34 and also against the face of one of the lock nuts 36, thus effectively sealing the operating head. If so desired, a plastic compound may be-placed on the-screw threads of the operating screw 4| for further sealing any opening thru the look I nuts. Thus, from a single operating point, the casket top will be evenly sealed upon the body portion of the casket. I v The manner of sealing the casket B is believed will be readily apparent from the foregoing.

With particular reference now to 1 the forms of the invention shown in Figures 14 to 17, the sealing arrangement as shown therein is adapted for use in connection with sealer caskets of the separate or inner seal type wherein a separate inner seal is used in conjunction with a separate top or cover.

Referring first to Figure .1 1, the casket body portion 65 has inturned front, rear and end flanges 66, 61 and 68 respectively providing a continuous seat which is formed with a continuous groove or channel 69 receiving a continuous gasket 10. .The top or cover H is hinged along its rear edge to the rear wall of the body portion 65 by suitable hinges 12. A separate or inner seal 13 is enclosed by the top H and includes an open frame 14 provided with a glass or other suitable panel 15. The frame 14 is hinged, along its rear edge as at 16 to the rear body flange 61, and is provided with a continuous marginal flange 11- adapted to seatupon the gasket 10. Pulldown studs I8 are carried by the flange along the forward edge of the frame I4 and extend thru openings in the front body flange 66 for engagement by the wedge bar 19 whereby the inner seal 13 may be drawn down upon the gasket Ill to seal the casket. Thus, it will be noted that this form of the invention differs slightly from that shown in Figures 1 and 5 in that whilejthe seal- 81 is hinged along its rear edge as at 89 to the.

rear body flange 82. A downwardly opening marginalchannel 90 is formed about the frame 81 and carries a continuous gasket 98 which is adapted to seal upon the-flat flanges 69, 83 and 83 of the casket body portion. Pull-down studs 82 are carried by. the forward portion of the frame 81 inward of the gasket 8| and co-act with a With reference to Figure 17, the casket body portion 94 has fiat inturned front, rear and end flanges 95, 96 and 07 respectively, forming a continuous seat. A top 98 is hinged along its rear edge as at 99 to the rear wall of the casket body 94 and has an inturned marginal flange I00. The separate or inner seal IOI comprises an open frame I02 provided with a transparent or other panel I03. A downwardly opening marginal channel is formed about the frame I02 for receiving a continuous gasket I04, and this chan, nel forms a marginal shoulder or seat I05. As will be seen, the inner seal IN is not hinged to the casket body. The inturned marginal flange I is formed with a shoulder flange I06 which is adapted to engage upon the seat I of the frame I02. Pull-down studs I01 are'carried by the flange I00 along the forward edge of the top 98 and are adaptedto co-act with a wedge bar I08 mounted beneath the body flange 95. Thus,

' when pressure is .applied to the top 98 by the pull-down lugs I01, the shoulder flanges I06 engage upon the seat I05 and exert a pressure on the frame I02 for compressing the gasket I04.

Referring to'the modified form of pull-down stud mounting shown in Figure 13, the threaded portion 56' receives a dished washer IIO beneath which is disposed a plastic-material such as putty or the like II I for forming'a seal about theshank of the stud. A nut H2 is threaded into engagement with the washer III] for retaining the stud in place.

While the caskets have been shown of metal, the caskets may be of any suitable material customary in the art.

Thus it will be seen that in all forms of the invention, an even sealing action is had thruout the entire sealing area thru means of a'concealed wedge bar operable from a single location and co-acting with a series of pull-down studs.

Changes in detail may be made to the forms of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sealing means for a casket of the type employed independently movable top sections, said sections having their inner ends disposed in 'substantial abutment; comprising, a sealing gasket the marginal gasket, to afford a complete seal between the top sections.

2. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independently movable top sections mounted on the body and having their inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed; a marginal sealing gasket extending entirely around the margin of the body, a transverse sealing gasket adapted to seal the joint between the top sections, said transverse gasket mounted adjacent the inner end wall of one of said to}: sections and its respective ends having sealing contact with the marginal gasket at the frontand back of the casket when the top sections are drawn down upon the body.

3. In a casket construction, a body, a sealing means, comprising a marginal sealing gasket .ex tending entirely around the margin of the body of the casket, a top section, said top section and body including cooperating means for pulling said top section down upon the body, said cooperating means disposed entirely within the zone of the body sealed by the marginal gasket and including operating means extending parallel with and adjacent to the forward run of the marginal gasket, said operating means extending beyond the zone of the body sealed by the marginal gasket, and means for sealing said operating means at the point where it extends beyond the zone of the body sealed by the marginal V gasket whereby the entire casket is effectively sealed.

4. In a casket construction, a body, a sealing means, comprising a marginal sealing gasket extending entirely around the margin of the body of the casket, a top section, said top section and body including cooperating means for pulling said top section down upon the body, said cooperating means disposed entirely within the zcne of the body sealed by the marginal gasket and including operating means extending parallel with and in back of the forward run of the marginal gasket, said operating means'extending 

